Traffic control signal



March 25, 1969 A. H. BOHRER, SR

TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL Filed Nov. 26, 1965 Hlberi" H.Bohren5r.

BY INVENTOR United States Patent 3,435,412 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL AlbertH. Bohrer, Sr., 11104 NE. Wygant, Portland, Oreg. 97220 Filed Nov. 26,1965, Ser. No. 510,003 Int. Cl. B60q N00 US. Cl. 340-107 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to traffic control signals ofthe class which are manually held and operated.

It is the general purpose of the present invention to provide a manualtraific control signal having two separate signal faces, which isreversible to display and actuate the selected signal face as desired.

Another principal object of the invention is the provision of a trafiiccontrol signal which may be carried in the hand, or set in a stationarybase at the election of the operator.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a portabletraflic control signal which is electrically operated through arechargeable dry cell battery system.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation, partly broken away to show theinterior construction of the reversible trafiic control signal of myinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, ofthe signal;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1and illustrating the manner of assembly of the components of the signal;and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a charging element which may be used inconjunction with the signal.

Generally stated, the reversible traflic control signal of my inventioncomprises an elongated hollow handle dimensioned to contain one or moredry cell batteries. An electric circuit is mounted within the handle andincludes, in addition to the batteries, two electric contact pairsaccessible side by side on one of the handle ends, a threepositionelectric switch, and electrical conductors interconnecting thelforegoing elements so as to form two subcircuits each including one ofthe contact pairs, the subcircuits being alternately energizable throughthe switch.

A signal head is mounted on the handle. It comprises an outer case oftransparent material bearing trafiic control indicia on each of itssides as well as an opaque central shield dividing it into twocompartments which are lightshielded from each other.

An electric circuit is mounted in the signal head. It includes a pair ofelectric lights mounted one on each side of the shield, two electriccontact pairs accessible side by side on one end of the case andreleasably engageable with the contact pairs of the handle, and electricconductors interconnecting the lights and the contact pairs to form twosub-circuits each including one of the contact pairs. Each of thesub-circuits is separately energizable through the correspondingsub-circuit of the handle to which it is connected.

3,435,412 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 Suitable battery recharging means, as arectifier of gmall size, may be mounted in either the handle or signalead.

Accordingly, in use, the three-way switch may be activated to energizeone or the other of the sub-circuits, thereby illuminating the lightbehind the selected one of the trafiic control indicia. The sign may bereversed as required to display the message on its other race. It may beheld manually or placed on a suitable support. When desired, it may berecharged by inserting the electrical contact terminals in the wall plugof the conventional volt house circuit.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particularreference to the drawings:

The reversible, manually operated, trafiic control signal of myinvention basically comprises a handle section by means of which thesign is held, manipulated and operated, and a releasable head sectionelectrically connected to the handle section and carrying a suitabletrafiic control message on each of its sides.

As shown in the drawings, the handle section, indicated generally at 10,comprises an elongated tubular case 11 dimensioned to receive aplurality of conventional dry cell batteries 12. A three position switch14 is mounted on the case convenient to the thumb of the operator. Aseparable base member 16 is dimensioned to slip over the bottom end ofthe handle.

Handle 10 also mounts two electric contact pairs accessible side by sideon the upper end of the handle. These may comprise either the male orfemale members of plug-in electrical connections. In the illustratedform of the invention they comprise prong-type electrical contactelements 18, 20.

Handle 10 also mounts electrical conductors suitably arranged to includethe electrical contact pairs in two sub-circuits, each including one ofthe contact pairs and each being separately and alternately energizablethrough switch 14.

The signal head, indicated generally at 22, basically comprises an outercase of transparent material bearing traffic control indicia on each ofits opposite sides, an opaque central shield dividing the case into twocompartments, and a suitable electric circuit to illuminate the space ineach of the compartments separately and alternately.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the case is formedin two matching halves 24 of suitable outline, as octagonal, each havinga convex central portion as well as a marginal flange by means of whichit is joined to the companion case section with bolts 26. The lower endof each of the case sections is formed with a semi-circular housing 28which, in the assembled form of the signal, houses the unit by means ofwhich the head is coupled to the handle.

The component sections of case 22 may be made of various transparentmaterials. Preferably they may be fabricated from transparent plastic,colored and shaded as desired. Each may bear indicia conveying anappropriate message. For example, if the sign is to be used on aconstruction project, one of the sides may bear the word Stop and theother the word Slow with the thought in mind that the sign operator maydisplay whichever side of the sign is appropriate.

In the illustrated form of the invention the shield member indicated at30 serves the multiple purposes of preventing the transmission of lightfrom one compartment to the other; of serving as a support for mountingelectrical lights 32, one in each compartment; and of serving as anelectical connector through which the lights are grounded. Stillfurther, it may serve as a light reflecting surface which intensifiesthe brilliance with which the signal is emitted.

Accordingly the shield may comprise a plate codimensional with casesections 24 and secured in intermediate assembled relation thereto bymeans of bolts 36. The plate preferably is made from a suitableelectrical conducting material, such as a conducting metal sheet havinga shiny surface.

Housing components 28 of case sections 24 receive an electrical socketmember 34. This member is made in two sections of electrical insulationmaterial and is secured to plate 30 by means of bolts 36.

Socket member 34 provides two pairs of electric contact members and inaddition provides fastening means for fastening the signal head to thehandle. The contact members include receptacles 38, one on each side,Which receive contact prongs 18. They also include a projecting end ofelectrically conducting plate 30 which extends into a recess 40,dividing it into two parts, each of which is dimensioned to receive oneof contact prongs 20.

Each of contact elements 38 is electrically connected to one of lights32, thereby providing two sub-circuits in the signal head, each of whichincludes one of the contact pairs and one of the lights, and each ofwhich separately is energizable through the corresponding subcircuits ofthe handle to which it is connected.

Preferably, though optionally, the signal of the invention is providedwith a battery charging unit comprising a conventional rectifier 42having sockets 44, 46 dimensioned to receive prongs 18, 20 respectively.The rectifier is attachable to the house line by a plug 48. It may beprovided as a separate unit or built integrally into handle 10.

It thus will be apparent that by the present invention 1 have provided atraflic control signal which is manually operated and reversible todisplay a selected message. The selection may be made conveniently bymanipulation of three-position switch 14 to energize one or the other oflights 32. The signal may be held in the hand or, if desired, stationedin Stand 16 at a location, somewhat removed from the danger site. Whennecessary, the battery may be recharged by means of charging unit 42.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A reversible trafiic control signal comprising (a) an elongated,hollow handle dimensioned to contain a dry cell electric battery,

(b) an electric circuit mounted within the handle and including (1) twoelectric contact pairs accessible side by side on one end of the handle,

(2) a three-position electric switch,

(3) electrical conductors connecting each contact pair across thebattery releasably through said switch to form two sub-circuits eachincluding one of the contact pairs, the sub-circuits being alternatelyenergizable through the switch,

(c) a signal head comprising 7 (1) an outer case of transparent materialbearing trafiic control indicia on each of two opposite sides,

(2) an opaque, central shield dividing the case between the said twoopposite sides into compartments which are light-shielded from eachother,

(d) an electric circuit within the signal head and including (1) a pairof electric lights mounted one on each side of the shield,

(2) two electric contact pairs accessible side by side on one end of thehead and releasably engageable with the contact pairs of the handle,

(3) electrical conductors connecting each contact pair to its associatedlight to form two subcircuits, each including one of the contact pairs,each of thesub-circuits being separately energizable through thecorresponding sub-circuit of the handle to which it is connectablethrough the contact pairs, and

(e) mounting means for mounting the signal head on the handle.

2. The reversible trafiic control signal of claim 1 including a basedimensioned releasably to receive the handle and support the signal.

3. Reversible traflic control signal of claim 1 including batterycharging means associated with the circuits.

4. The reversible traffic control signal of claim 1 wherein the casecomprises two convex transparent sheets releasably secured to eachother.

5. The reversible trafiic control signal of claim 1 wherein the case isprovided in two convex halves of transparent plastic releasably securedto each other and wherein the shield comprises a sheet ofelectrically-conducting metal coupled between the case halves andmounting the electric lights, one terminal of each light being connectedelectrically to the sheet and the sheet forming one contact of eachcontact pair in the signal head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,075,174 1/1963 Orszulak 340321X 3,279,110 10/1966 Lelicofi 40l32 X JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES M. MARMELSTEIN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

